Carton



June 10, 1941.

CARTON Filed April 16. 1938 G. C. NYDEGGER 2 Sheets-Sheet l A TTORNEYS.

/gegge/r June 10, 1941. G. C NYDEGGER 2,244,961

CARTON Filed April 16, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F'IE 4 IN V EN TOR. Gelo/gz C /Vydg en Patented June l0, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE CARTON George C. Nydegger, Chicago, Ill. Application April l16, 1938, Serial No. 202,396

(onzas- 29) 6 Claims.

The invention relates to small multi-cell cartons of the type commonly used for carrying eggs or other frangible articles.

An object of the invention is to provide a car- `a, carton of the character described which may be supplied to users in a folded, fiat form and simply and readily assembled by the user by merely folding and assembling various cut-out portions of the carton.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carton of the character described which, when assembled and packed with articles, maty be severed into two or more completely enclosed carton units for vending a fractional part of the articles contained within the carton.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the speciflcation. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings: t

Figure 1 is a plan View of a. blank of material appropriately cut for assembling into a carton.

Figure 2 is a plan view showing the blank folded and secured but in flat or collapsed position. Y

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the carton in collapsed position and is taken substantially on the plane of line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the carton in fully assembled form but with the cover in open position.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the carton in closed position and is taken substantially on the plane of line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the carton in closed position and is taken substantially on the plane of line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of the carton.

The carton of the present invention and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, is, preferably in the form of an elongated rectangular casing, including a rear wall 9, a bottom wall II, a front wall I2, atop wall I3 and a top cover I4. Preferably, the carton is made from a single blank I6 of cardboard, pasteboard or the like and the blank is folded to provide the several walls aforesaid. As here shown, the bottom wall II is folded forwardly from the rear wall 9 along a fold I1, the front wall I2 is folded vertically from the bottom wall II along a. fold I8, and the top wall I3 is folded rearwardly from the front wall I2 along a fold I9 and is provided with a bent up free end section 2|, which may be glued or otherwise secured to the rear wall 9. Preferably, the end 2| is provided with a suitable adhesive to facilitate its securement to the wall 9. The cover I4 is formed as an extension to the rear wall 9 and is folded forwardly at the top of the rear Wall along a fold line 22 and is provided with a ydownwardly bent front portion 23 for engagement with -the front wall I I to secure the cover in closed position. Preferably, and as here shown, the portion 23 is bent from the cover portion I4 along a fold line 24, and is provided with a plurality of hook portions 26 which engage a plurality of webs 21 provided by the top wall I3 at the front wall I 9 of the carton. The various fold lines Il, I8, I9, 22 and 24 are illustrated in Figure 1, and these lines are preferably creased or scored into the blank I4 to facilitate the assembly of the carton. In assembling the carton for shipment to a dealer or other user, the blank I4 is folded along the scored line I8 so as to position the adhesive strip 2| against the rear wall 9 adjacent the scored line 22 and the cover portion is then folded down on top of the folded bottom and front walls, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Preferably, there is provided at the scored lines Il and I8 a, plurality of cut-out portions 28 and 29 formed integrally with the front wall I 2 and the rear wall 9 and extending into the area of the bottom Wall I I, so that on folding the rear and front walls from the bottom, the portions 28 and 29 will project downwardly to provide a plurality of longitudinally spaced feet portions for the carton.

As an important feature of this type of carton, the interior of the casing' is divided into a plurality of individually spaced compartments 3|, here shown twelve in number to accommodate a dozen eggs or other articles. In accordance with thev present arrangement, these compartments are dened by a' plurality of transversely extending partitions 32 which are cut out from the top wall I3 and folded therefrom into vertical position. As an important feature of the present arrangement, there is provided in addition to the transverse partitions 32 a longitudinal divider strip 33 which is positioned intermediate the front and rear walls of the carton to define individual compartments at the opposite sides thereof and is arranged in a piane disposed below the top of the front wall I2 and the folded portion of the top wall I3 and intermediate the top and bottom of the partitions 32. As a further important feature of the present construction,

the partitions 32 are so cut from the top wall I3 as to extend from the longitudinal strip 33 downwardly to the bottom wall I I and upwardly to weil above the top of the fron-t wall I2 and the folded portion of the top Wall I3. As will be seen from Figure 5, the partitions extend upwardly to the level of the fold line 22 so as to provide a support for the under side of the cover I4 and in` the bottom wall Il and'preferably, the lower ends 34 of the partitions extend into general alignmen-t with the feet portions 28 and 29, so as to assist in the support of the carton with the bottom wall II thereof held in elevated position over a supporting surface.

As a further important feature of the present invention, I provide for a cushioning means within each of the compartments for resiliently holding the article placed therein against displacement and as a desirable feature of this construction, the cushioning means is extended laterally into each of the compartments from an inside corner thereof adjacent the intersection of the on the top wall I3 and which extend in the developed or open position of the blank laterally from the ends of the front and bottom walls and the cover. The portions 62 and 63 are formed essentially similar to the partitions 32 and are standing portions 62 which extend vupwardly from the fold line 51 to the underside of the cover.

Prefembly, the end walls below the fold lines 31' are imerforate so as to provide a complete end enclosure for the carton.

As a further important feature of they present construction, the carton is so arranged as to perlongitudinal divider strip 33 and the transverse partitions 32. As here shown, this cushioning means is in the form of a lateral wing or tongue 31 formed as a web between each of the partitions 32' and the divider strip 33 and extends generally laterally and downwardly into the adjacent compartment.

As will be understood from the foregoing and also with reference to the accompanying drawings, each of the several parts including the partitions 32, the longitudinal divider strip 33 and the cushioning means 31 are all formed from the body of the top' wall I3 by cutting the several parts from the wall in such a manner as to define the several parts and atthe same time maintain a proper physical connection between the several parts. Accordingly, the partitionsv are cut from the divider strip 33 along longitudinal lines 33 and 33 and are folded from the strip 33 along a scored cross-line 4I are cut from the sides of the cushioning means along lines 42 and from the adjacent partitions along lines 43 and are secured to the strip 2l by means of web portions 44 and severed from the strip 2I and the webs by lines 46 and 41. The partitions are connected to the front wall by means of the webs 21 aforesaid and are cut from the front wall and the webs alonglines 43 and 49. In assembling the box, the partitions are pressed downwardly away from the webs 21 and 44 so as to engage the feet portions 34 through the openings in the bottom wall and to cause the opposite ends 6I to stand up above the strip 33.

The opposite ends of the carton are closed by portions 62 and 53 formed as lateral extensions mit the removal of a portion or. fractional number of the compartments where a smaller than a whole number of articles are to be sold and in accordance with the present construction the carton, when so severed, provides a plurality of completely enclosed carton units. As here shown, the carton is arranged for breaking in half, so as to facilitate the dispensing of one-half dozen eggs or other articles, and the carton is arranged to bevsevered between a double partition wall 63. including a pair of partitions 64 and 66 in juxtaposition, so that upon so severing the carton the partitions 64 and 66 ,will provide the end walls of the severed carton units. In the form of the invention as here shown, the partitions 64 and 66 are arranged in the blank of material as illustrated in Figure 1, in back to back position at the opposite sides of a severed line 61, and are secured to the strip 2I and the front wall I2 by means of narrow connecting portions 63 and 69 and are severed from the strip 2I and the front wall I2' along lines 1I and 12. In this manner the partitions 64 and 66 may be pressed downwardly away from the connecting portions 63 and 63 to engage feet portions 13 of the partitions through openings 14 in the bottom wall II of the carton. To facilitate the breaking of the carton at its mid-section between the partitions 64 and 66, I preferably provide a scored line 16 through the full length of the blank I4, so that the cover and each of the rear bottom, front and top walls may be readily severed in a common plane between the partitions 64 and 66.

I also prefer `to arrange the hooks 26 on the cover to face in opposite directions at the opposite sides of the weakened line 16 in order to more tightly secure the cover in place, and also to enable a symmetric cutting of the blank at opposite sides of the weakened center line 16. With the hooks facing in opposite directions, there is practically no danger of the cover being accidentally opened.

In order to facilitate the opening of the carton, particularly where the hooks on the cover are arranged to face in opposite directions at the opposite sides of the weakened center line 13, as above explained, I may provide a perforated tab 11 at the center portion of the cover which may be torn off prior to opening the cover to thereby permit the springing of the opposite ends of the cover together suilcient to provide a release of the hooks from the webs 21. This feature has been illustrated as a modified form of the carto in Figure 7 of the drawings.

I claim:

1. A carton comprising, an elongated casing having rear, bottom, front and top walls, said top wall being cut to define a longitudinally extending divider strip intermediate said front and rear walls, a plurality of partitions cut from said Itop wall at the opposite sides of said strip and being foldable from said top wall into vertical position to define with said strip a plurality of longitudinally and transversely spaced individual compartments, and tongue portions formed from said top wall integral with said strips and partitions at the inside corners of said compartments to resiliently engage articles placed in said compartments and each including a free laterally extending part attached to said strip and one of said partitions.

2. A carton comprising, an elongated casing having rear, bottom, front and top walls, said top wall being cut to dene a longitudinally eX- tending divider strip intermediate said front and rear walls, a plurality of partitions cut from said top wall at the opposite sides of said strip and being foldable from said top wallinto vertical position to deine with said strip a plurality of longitudinally and transversely spaced individual compartments, and tongues formed from said top Wall and integral with said partitions and said strip at the inside corners of said compartments and each having a part projecting forwardly into said compartment and supported exclusively at the rear of said part to permit vertical movement of the forward end of the part to reslliently hold articles of different sizes in said compartments.

3. A one-piece carton comprising, an elongated casing having rear, bottom, front and top walls, said top wall being cut to define a longitudinally extending divider strip intermediate said front and rear walls, a plurality of partitions cut from said top Wall at the opposite sides of said strip and being foldable from said top wall into vertical position to define with said strip a plurality of longitudinally and transversely spaced individual compartments, and tongue portions formed from said top wall and integral with said strip and each of said partitions and projecting into each of said compartments from a straight diagonal line across the inside corners of said compartments to resiliently engage articles of different sizes placed in said compartments and being disposed intermediate the upper and lower extremities of said partitions.

Cil

4. A carton comprising, an elongated casing formed with a plurality of partitions therein to dene a plurality of individually spaced compartments, a cover hingedly secured to one Wall of said casing and having hook portions for interlocking with another Wall of said casing, said hooks being turned in opposite directions from an intermediate portion of said cover, said cover being provided with a weakened tab portion ar' ranged to be torn from said cover to permit springing oi its end sections toward its center to release said hook portions.

5. A carton comprising, a blank of material having a rear wall, a bottom Wall folded forwardly of said rear wall, a front wall folded upwardly from said bottom Wall, atop Wall folded rearwardly of said front wall and secured to said rear wall, said top wall being cut to provide a plurality of partitions foldable vertically therefrom to denne a plurality of compartments, a cover formed as a continuation of said rear wall and being folded forwardly therefrom to overlie said partitions and being provided at the forward edge thereof with a plurality of hooks arranged to interlock with said top Wall, said hooks being turned in opposite directions from an intermediate portion of said cover, said intermediate portion being provided with a weakened tab arranged to be torn from said cover to permit springing of the same to release said hooks.

6. A carton comprising, an elongated casing having rear, bottom, front and top walls, said top wall being cut to deilne a longitudinally extending divlder strip intermediate said front and rear walls, a plurality of partitions cut from said top wall at the opposite sides of said strip and being foldable from saidtop wall into vertical position to define with said strip a pluralityV of longitudinally and transversely spaced individual compartments, said partitions being joined to said top wall in a iillet across a corner of each of said compartments, and tongue portions formed from said top wall integral with said strips and partitions at corners of said compartments diagonally opposite to said llets and each tongue including a free lateral part extending into one of said compartments to resiliently engage between said tongue and opposite llet an article placed in the compartment.

GEORGE C. NYDEGGER. 

